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2479: Bath
Abbey, England

Mystery
Worshipper: Aileen.The church:Abbey
Church of St Peter and St Paul, Bath, England.Denomination:Church
of England, Diocese
of Bath and Wells.The building:
Much has been written about Bath Abbey, more than I can say
in a Mystery Worship report. Let me only mention what impressed
me the most: the vast height of the building, carvings of
angels, the beautiful windows with their detailed illustrations,
the memorials, the Christmas crèche.The church:
In addition to conducting regular worship services, the abbey
also welcomes visitors. Guides are always happy to talk about
the history of the abbey and its place in the Christian scheme
of things. Cards and other mementos are offered for sale.The neighbourhood:
The ancient city of Bath traces its history back to Roman
times. Nowadays there are many shops and plenty of old, beautiful
buildings. There is also a river going along the town, and
a hill to climb for spectacular views.The cast:
The Revd Dr Alan Garrow, vicar theologian.The date & time:
St Stephen's Day, Wednesday, 26 December 2012, 11.00am.

What was the name of
the service?
Said Eucharist.

How full was the building?
Twelve people came to the eucharist while others sat or explored
the rest of the abbey. It is a large building, where people
can be hidden and quiet, and so all sorts of things can happen.

Did anyone welcome you
personally?
Two men welcomed me as I went in. Later, as I explored the
abbey, two women said hello.

Was your pew comfortable?
The pew was really comfortable. I sat toward the front.

How would you describe
the pre-service atmosphere?
It was quiet. and most of us prayed. I recalled to mind what
I knew about St Stephen.

What were the exact
opening words of the service?
"The Lord be with you."

What books did the congregation
use during the service?
We used a paper given to us, with all the readings and prayers.

What musical instruments
were played?
There was no music. As I explored the area, I noticed the
enormous organ high up above us. Very impressive.

Did anything distract
you?
Hearing about the martyrdom of St Stephen brought to mind
murders that are taking place in the world today.

Was the worship stiff-upper-lip,
happy clappy, or what?
I think that a said eucharist somehow makes clear the fact
that there are so many prayers in the eucharist, and what
they all mean.

Exactly how long was
the sermon?
We had no sermon.

Which part of the service
was like being in heaven?
The peace was exchanged with the words: "Where two or three
are gathered in my name," says the Lord, "there am I in the
midst of them." I felt the presence of Jesus and it was like
being in heaven with him.

And which part was like
being in... er... the other place?
I had been visiting friends and was sorry that I hadn't asked
them to come along to church with me.

What happened when you
hung around after the service looking lost?
The Revd Dr Garrow, looking splendid in his red vestments,
and others in the altar party smiled and chatted with me and
each other. They were very nice to me.

How would you describe
the after-service coffee?
Not in the church  I joined my friends at a nearby hotel
and had really nice tea, coffee and biscuits.

How would you feel about
making this church your regular (where 10 = ecstatic, 0 =
terminal)?
10  If I lived in Bath, I would definitely make the
abbey my home church, as it seems excellent and spiritual.

Did the service make
you feel glad to be a Christian?
Yes. The words of the final blessing: "The blessing of God
almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among
you and remain with you always" made me want to rejoice.

What one thing will
you remember about all this in seven days' time?
The beautiful church and the kind people belonging to it,
and God's love for me and others.

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